Roller skate



Nov. s, 193s. D. A. MCCLOY 2,136,306

ROLLER SKATE Filed May 22, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTQRNEYS Nov. s, 1938. D. A. MCCLOY 2,136,306

ROLLER SKATE Filed May 22, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 2 l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in roller skates and the primary object thereof, in its broad aspect, is to provide a skate of this character with which greater speed can be made, than with present day skates, with a wider margin of safety and which is more flexible and more easily manipulated, as regards steering, than is the case with the usual types of skates.

In its more specic aspect the principal object of my invention is to provide a roller skate having a low center of gravity, a long wheel base and a wide wheel spread at the front of the skate and wheels of larger diameter than those with which skates are usually equipped all of which features contribute to easy, smooth riding, stability, particularly in turning, comfort and the attainment of high speed.

Another object is to provide a skate for the purposes above set forth which is manipulative for making short turns by slight and easily elfected tilting of the foot supporting parts proper.

Other objects are to provide a skate constructed for the attainment of the objectives above set forth which is light in weight, strong and durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects together with the precise nature of my improvements will be clearly understood when the following description and claim are read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a skate embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a view in bottom plan.

Figure 3 isa view in front elevation.

- Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section with the wheels and axles removed.

Figure 5 is a detail view in transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a View in perspective of the toe plate of the skate.

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the heel plate. c

Figure 8 is a View in perspective of a socket member forming a part of the heel plate.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the foot support tilted in one direction for the purpose of steering the skate.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan further illustrating the steering operation.

Figure 11 is a view in transverse section of one of the wheels, and

Figure 12 is a view in side elevation of said Wheel.

(Cl. :ESO-11.26)

Referring to the drawings by numeral, my improved skate in its preferred embodiment comprises a foot support I including a toe plate 2, a heel plate 3, a heel guard ll and a heel socket member 5 for securing the guard 4 to the heel r 5 plate 3.

The heel plate has the form of a truss bar and comprises a transversely concave web 6 having downturned edge flanges I extending along its r opposite sides and terminating in a pair of rear- 10 wardly extending opposed bracket arms 8 in which the rear axle 9 is mounted. "The bracket arms 8 are upwardly curved to lower the center of gravity at the heel of the skate relative to the axle 9. A substantially semi-circular heel guard 1% I0 for receiving the heel is xedly secured to the heel platev 3 in advance of the rear wheel and by means of the circular socket member 5. The socket member 5 is provided with a radial concave portion II forming an under rib on the socket 20 member fitting into the web 6 of the heel plate 3 and secured thereto by a bolt I2 the head of which is countersunk in said concave portion Il said bolt being provided with a nut I3.on the under side of the web 6. The socket member 5 is 25 formed with upstanding marginal lugs I4 to which the heel guard is riveted as at l5. 'I'he heel guard I0 has secured thereto the usual ankle strap I6 and buckle I'I.

The toe plate 2 which is of the usual edge con- 30 tour is formed with a center longitudinally extending concave portion I8 forming an under rib on said plate extending from midway of the plate to the rear end thereof and tting into the web '6 of the heel plate 3. The toe and heel plates 35 2 and 3 are adjustably connected together by means of a horizontally extending slot I9 in the heel plate 3 and a nut and bolt 20 and 2| as shown in Figure 4.

The front axle 22 is mounted on the toe plate 2 40 by means of a bolster 23 pivoted as at 24 between a pair of front and rear lugs 25 and 26, of different lengths, to rock about an axis inclined lengthwise of the skate so that tilting of the foot support I sideways in opposite directions will 45 cause the axle 22 to swing in opposite directions, respectively. The usual compression member 21, in the form of a block of rubber, is interposed between the bolster 23 and the toe plate 2 for 0 holding the foot support I level and the axle in normal position. The lugs 25 and 26 are struck downwardly from the tbe plate 2 in front of the portion I8 to locate the front axle 22 directly under the ball of the foot so that steering may 55 be readily effected by pressure applied principally by the front part of the foot.

The toe plate is provided with the usual toe clamps 28 located in front of the front axle 22.

The front axle 22 is underslung and extends well beyond the sides of the toe plate 2 so that large front wheels 29 may be used, a low center of gravity obtained at the front of the skate and the front wheels spaced well beyond the sides of the toe plate. As will be apparent these features all provide for stability at the front of the skate, easy riding and quick acceleration to high speed. The foot support i is supported at its back by a single rear wheel Sil running between the arms 8 and whereby the support i may be easily tilted for steering purposes, weight reduced at the rear of the skate, and side sway incident to tilting of the foot support reduced to a minimum.

The front wheels, one of which is shown in Figures 1l and 12 are rubber tired and comprise a pair of opposite metal web plates 3| outwardly flared at their outer edges to provide opposed cooperating rim portions 32 spaced apart at their inner edges, and a pair of opposed annular socket members 33 forming therebetween a transversely round socket 34 extending around the inner edges of the rim portion 32. The tire 35 comprises a transversely round outer tread portion 36 seating against the rim portions 32 and a smaller similarly shaped inner bead portion 3l formed integrally with the portion 36 and seating in the socket 34. Bolts 38 secure the plates 33 together and clamp the tire 36 in the described position. The web portions 3l are formed with outer and inner hub portions, respectively, 39 and il? cooperating to form therebetween a chamber lll, the outer hub portion being provided with an external edge bead 42 and an internal edge flange 43, and the inner hub portion having a radial edge ange lli surrounding the axle 22. Within the chamber ill is an anti-friction roller bearing comprising outer and inner sleeve-like race members 45 and A16, respectively, and roller bearings 41. A wear washer @13 is interposed between the flange 48 and the inner end of the anti-friction bearing said washer seating against a shoulder 49 on the axle 22. The outer end of the outer race member G bears against the shoulders 43 whereby said race member is held against longitudinal play. A washer 5D is mounted on the front end of the axle 22 against the outer end of the inner race member 46 and within the edges of the flange (i3. A cotter pin 5I in the axle 22 bearing against the washer 50 secures the hub portions 39 and 40 and the parts of the anti-friction bearing in position on the axle 22. The usual dust cap 52 fitting over the bead 42 closes the outer end of the chamber 4 l.

The foregoing is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention and it is thought that its construction and operation will be clear therefrom. It is to be understood however that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that right is herein reserved to modifications of details disclosed falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a skate structure, a frame comprising intertting heel and toe portions, said toe portion fashioned with a longitudinally extending arcuate-shaped web terminating at the sides thereof in oppositely disposed anges, said heel portion fashioned with a longitudinally extending arcuate-shaped web receiving said rst mentioned web therein and terminating at the sides thereof in depending anges extending in antiparallelism with said first mentioned flanges, the jointures of the flanges to one web sea-ted within the jontures of the flanges to the other web whereby to maintain said webs in seated condition against relative creeping movement when connected together, said depending flanges extending longitudinally of said frame and terminating beyond one end of the web thereof in spaced arms adapted to secure a roller therebetween and coacting with said webs to reenforce said frame intermediate of the ends thereof, and means connecting said webs together whereby said portions are adjustable lengthwise relative to each other.

DAVID A. MCCLOY. 

